A reported 29 people have been injured in an explosion in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood around 8:30 Saturday evening:
The authorities were unsure of the cause of the explosion and were exploring various possibilities.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said at an 11:15 p.m. news conference that the explosion appeared to have been “an intentional act” but that there was no evidence that terrorism had been involved, although the investigation was continuing. The blast shattered windows in a five-story brownstone building and sent debris into the street, a law enforcement official said. The building is between a church on its eastern side and an apartment building under renovation on its western side.
Of the 29 people hurt, one suffered serious injuries, said Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill.
As a reminder, early reports in such events are often inaccurate.